WMD: Mortein partners with Biire to sensitise Akodo Community on Malaria Intervention Activities

L-R: National Information Officer, United Nations Information Centre, Oluseyi Soremekun, Marketing Manager, Home & Hygiene, RB West Africa, Omotola Bamigbaiye-Elatuyi; Baale of Akodo Community and Executive Director of Biire Foundation, Dare Ajayi.

In continuance of the 2018 World Malaria Day Celebration and continued effort to increase awareness and drastically reduce malaria morbidity and mortality rates, Reckitt Benckiser (RB) Nigeria, makers of Mortein insecticide brand, in conjunction with an indigenous community based organization, Biire Child and Maternity Foundation on Wednesday 9th of May 2018 embarked on a 2 phase environmental management and malaria prevention sensitisation exercise to Akodo Community in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government of Lagos State.

L-R: National Information Officer, United Nations Information Centre, Oluseyi Soremekun, a pregnant mother, Helen Oboniye and Marketing Manager, Marketing Manager, Home & Hygiene, RB West Africa, Omotola Bamigbaiye-Elatuyi; during Mortein Grassroot and Community Sensitisation exercise towards malaria in Akodo community, Ibeju-Lekki Lagos.

The 1st phase was at Akodo Community Health Care Centre where pregnant women were educated on the on the malaria prevention, causes, symptoms and treatment before moving to the community for the 2nd phase where the mothers and pregnant women in the host community were also educated on malaria and tested for the parasite and drug was administered to those who tested positive.

Addressing the community women, who came out in their numbers to listen to them, Marketing Manager, Marketing Manager, Home & Hygiene, RB West Africa, Omotola Bamigbaiye-Elatuyi said the exercise was part of the RB’s efforts to achieve its aim of stemming the growth of mortality rate in rural areas. She emphasized that malaria prevention is more of personal intervention than government intervention and urged the pregnant women and children under the age of five to sleep under treated insecticide nets and spray their rooms and surrounding with Mortein which is a reliable and efficient insecticide spray.

“We know that malaria is very endemic and very dangerous especially to the young ones and the pregnant women. An estimated 445,000 pregnant women and children aged below five die every year from malaria with Africa accounting for over 90 percent of global malaria cases and deaths. That is why we are here today to sensitize you on the essence of the prevention, treatment and total eradication of malaria. We need to be the winner in this battle.” She said.

While commending the community women, National Information Officer, United Nations Information Centre, Oluseyi Soremekun, stressed the need to keep the environment clean and avoid stagnant water, where mosquitoes breed near residences, saying malaria is a disease that is transmitted through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.

While admonishing RB for their support, the Executive Director of Biire Foundation, Dare Ajayi thanked Mortein for their support in reaching out and partnering with them to drive behaviour change on Akodo community.

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